7 Home at last

Chapter 7 Home at last For the first time in twenty years, Ulysses woke up on his home island. A lady nearby was watching him. "The goddess Athene!" whispered Ulysses.

"You can't go home yet," she said. "You've been away so long everyone thinks you're dead." Things have changed. "Many men are at the palace now. They want to marry your wife, Penelope, and kill your son Telemachus*."

Athene had a plan. She gave Ulysses a disguise and sent him to the pig keeper's hut. The pig keeper thought Ulysses was a hungry beggar. He invited him in for some food and a chat.

Then Athene sent Ulysses' son, Prince Telemachus, to the same hut. When the pig keeper was out of the room, Athene used her magic to remove Ulysses' disguise. Telemachus was no longer looking at a beggar. He was looking at his father.

Quickly, Ulysses and his son talked about how to save Penelope and the kingdom. The next day, Ulysses went to the palace with the pig keeper. Once again, he was in disguise.

Ulysses pretended to beg inside the great hall. Dozens of men were feasting and boasting about who would marry Queen Penelope. They only gave Ulysses a few crumbs to eat. "Go away, you smelly beggar," they said.